Stop Looking on the Bright Side: We’ll Be Screwed By the Pandemic for Years to Come

Unfortunately, the history of the past generation justifies pessimism about the next one

 
The headline certainly sounded grave and full of portent: “Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How.”

Those words, emblazoned atop a POLITICO Magazine story last month in the opening days of the global shutdown, were intriguing enough to set a new record. The article, a compilation of “34 big thinkers’ predictions for what’s to come,” within days had been read by many millions of people, the highest traffic of any piece in the 13-year history of this publication.

It was one of those moments—the right idea at the right time—that hit the journalistic sweet spot. I plunged in with curiosity, which turned gradually to unease, finally to irritation.

Given the drumbeat of the news at the time, I was expecting apocalyptic prophesy. A majority of the predictions, however, sound not just tolerable but affirmatively good. “Science reigns again.” “A return to faith in serious experts.” “A decline in polarization.” “A new kind of patriotism.” “New kinds of reform.” “A healthier digital lifestyle.” “A revival of parks.” And so on.

Hmmm … On the one hand: Count me in for the congenial future that awaits once we get past this nasty virus. On the other hand: Are we sure these predictions are in response to the pandemic, and not simply ideas the writers have been evangelizing for long before Covid-19?

Nothing wrong, of course, with looking on the bright side, and recall that the commentary ran in mid-March when a vision of Americans knit together against the virus was arguably still a realistic prospect. I know and respect several of the writers. So it wasn’t initially clear why this sunny-side-up view of the post-pandemic future should leave me sullen and scornful.

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Πηγή: politico.com